Tag: winter driving

It’s that time of year…

Posted on by News Desk

No, not when Britain locks down again, although it is starting to seem like an endless hamster wheel of doom and gloom. Hopefully for many of you, life will go on and work will continue and you won’t be putting in extra hours as a result of the new lockdown.

But it is the time of year when the days are shorter and winter driving comes into play. So, it’s a smart move to keep on top of what’s going on with your van, and doing what you can to keep things in good working order. A lot of issues and van trouble can be pre-empted by a bit of home maintenance and regular checks to keep things ticking over. 

Get in the habit of walking round your van each day before you set off to give it a quick check over. Are your lights working? Are your tyres all looking okay? Check the tyre pressures weekly, while you’re at it.  Are all your doors secure and your fuel cap tight?

We spoke about van security last week, but it’s important to keep an eye on any doors or windows which could do with some extra security. Always try and park it somewhere that you can see it. 

Regular services are a must. At least once every 10,000 miles is necessary. Make sure you keep everything safe, secure and road-worthy, especially as the weather is getting worse – and make sure you have breakdown recovery, just in case you need it – this weather is not the time to be broken down in the middle of nowhere with no help at hand. 

And of course, make sure your van insurance policy is up to the job. Goes without saying, really.

We’ll talk more about the lockdown and what it means for van drivers next week, but in the meantime, stay safe. 

Van Drivers in Stormy Waters

Posted on by News Desk

Well, hardly surprising in this weather, but van drivers up and down the country have been hitting the headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. A DPD driver up in Fordingbridge had to be rescued after his van got swept away by floods when the river burst its banks, (so if you’re expecting a parcel, you may not be getting it). Thankfully, locals were there to pull him to safety. Over in High Wycombe, a van driver was left with serious injuries after being hit by a suspected drug-driver. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, a van driver blamed a drug-induced coma for crashing into a parked car, before hitting the wall of a house before finally stopping when he’d ploughed into a church wall.  Up in Scotland, another van driver finds himself in court after fatally wounding someone during Storm Dylan.

It’s not great on van drivers, is it? While we can’t really say anything about the drug user besides hoping he gets what he deserves, in this stormy weather, the chance of an accident it infinitely higher for us all, and if it’s your work and pay packet that’s at risk… when the weather is this bad, what’s the right thing to do? 

Granted, nobody wants to be on the road when the wind is blowing and the rivers are bursting their banks all around us, but delivery drivers and tradesmen still have jobs to do. Staying home till it passes would leave many without work for more than the duration of the storm. 

It all comes down to balancing the risk. Here are some things you can do.

  • Check the weather forecast before you leave. Know what you’re going to be facing so you can be prepared.
  • Check local news to find out about any floods or accidents. Social media is great for finding local incidents before the news picks them up.
  • Stick to major roads where possible. Avoid back roads and country lanes where trees might be down and you’ll find yourself stuck.
  • Plan your journey and let someone know your intended route. Check in regularly so they know where you’re at. 
  • Don’t travel when the storm is at its worst. If you’re late, you’re late. It’s better than the alternative. 
  • Be prepared. Take warm clothes, a phone charger, blankets and food and drink. If you get stuck, you’ll need it. 
  • Make sure your van is in good nick. Check tyre pressures, oil levels and that there’s nothing preventable that could go wrong. Check your breakdown kit is stocked and ready if needed. 
  • Fill up before each journey. That way, if you need extra fuel, it’s there. 

We hope this is the last of the storms for the year, but, this is Britain, where snow in April isn’t unheard of, so be prepared for anything and stay safe.

Winter Driving – Are you prepared?

Posted on by News Desk

As winter spreads its icy tendrils out over our green and pleasant land, most of us don’t do anything to prepare either ourselves or our vans for winter. But the days are most definitely shorter, and the north of the country has already seen its first snow, and some are saying it’s going to be our worst winter for a while. So here at CVI, in the name of being responsible writers, we thought we’d arm you with our top tips for staying safe this winter.

  1. Give yourself more space to the car in front. Yes, we know this goes against everything many van drivers believe, but being bumper to bumper with the car in front isn’t actually a good idea, especially in winter. Slowing down and giving yourself more space to the vehicle in front, so you have a greater chance of recovering the van if you do lose control can be the difference between life and death – not just yours, but of other vehicles around you. 
  2. Check your van is ready for the road. That means checking your tyre pressures are ok, (even better if you have a set of winter tyres for this time of year), your fluids are topped up, including some de-icer in your screen wash, your van battery is working well and you have a personal emergency kit ready if you need it. That includes water, a blanket or duvet and a couple of little snack bars to keep you going if you do get stuck. It’s recommended that you check your type pressure each week to be safe. Also check your roadside emergency kit is complete, your fire extinguisher is tested and you have everything you should have.
  3. Winter tyres are worth the investment. They will ensure you have better grip in the ice and snow, are less likely to aquaplane in the wet and the compound is better suited to winter conditions. Invest in a set and they should last you for years to come. 
  4. Do you know how to handle your van in case of a spin or a skid? Just thinking through and visualising how you’d handle this will leave you better prepared than just winging it in the moment. 
  5. Keep everything clean. Again, we know keeping your van clean isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but ensuring windscreens, lights and wiper blades are clean and in good working order can help keep your vision of the road at its best.
  6. Give yourself extra time. When the weather is bad, don’t just assume you’ll get from A to B in your usual time. You won’t, and rushing to get there is putting your life in danger when conditions are bad. 
  7. Try to avoid stopping on hills in snowy and icy conditions. Use a low gear to get to the top, because once you’ve stopped on a steep hill, getting going again, especially in a heavy van, is easier said than done. 
  8. Make sure your van insurance is up to date and you have enough cover for the contents. If you’re delivering Christmas gifts, check your policy covers the full value of what you’re carrying. The cheapest van insurance policy often isn’t the best. Thankfully, this is something we can help with, by filling out our form and getting the pick of the best deals and offers available.

All these things can help to keep you safe, keep other road users safe and make sure you’re around for the joys of spring, even if it does feel as if that’s a very long time to wait still. 

Why you may be feeling SAD…

Posted on by News Desk

While the majority of our readers here at CVI are waiting each week with baited breath to read out latest news, it appears that one or two of you may be nodding off… at the wheel.

Yes, in shocking news from Motoring Research, they found that almost half of all van drivers have, at some point, fallen asleep at the wheel. And now the clocks have gone back, van drivers up and down the country are even more likely to feel tired and struggle with their moods during the shorter days and longer nights.

The study of 2,000 van drivers found that 83% of respondents said that tiredness was a greater issue for them during the autumn and winter months, and 45% said that they find their mood to be affected by the change of seasons. And why wouldn’t you? Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect many of us in countries with short winter days, and long dark nights, and while treatment is surprisingly straightforward, it appears to be something that many people are embarrassed to seek medical help for.

Going back to falling asleep at the wheel – if you are feeling a little drowsy, what should van drivers who are feeling sleepy to do? Well, it’s been proven that simply opening the window doesn’t work, so that’s 58% of the respondents to the survey who aren’t doing the right thing. At all. Instead, the guidance is to pull over and take a 15-45-minute nap, and thankfully 2/3 of the van drivers said that they do actually this when they are really tired. 

But if you do feel that it’s a little more than a bad night’s sleep and this time of year brings a repeat of the same symptoms, the advice is simple, make sure you lay off the caffeine and alcohol, get a regular sleep pattern, take some form of exercise to boost endorphins and tire you a little and seek medical advice if you feel that you are a sufferer of SAD (Seasonal Affective disorder). If going to the doctors is too much, you could also invest in a SAD light for yourself. Just 10 minutes a day is enough to help make those depressing dark mornings a tad less terrible. 

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